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PSPgo FAQ

August 28, 2009 - Goodness gracious! The PSPgo is almost here! The time has come for Sony's handheld system to enter the completely digital age and embrace the shimmering line we lovingly call "the horizon."

As we approach the launch date for Sony's next portable system, we wanted to compile a list of frequently asked questions regarding the PSPgo in case you haven't kept up on the latest. Want to know how much it costs or what comes in the box? Well, we have the answers. Check below for all the information you could ever want -- and then some -- so you can be fully prepared for the system's launch.

Do not, however, ask us to buy you a system. No matter how tragic your story, we cannot help you. But we can address your inquiries...

The PSPgo is Sony's fourth iteration of its PlayStation Portable handheld gaming system. Whereas the previous versions offered incremental changes to the hardware (slimmer form factor, brighter screen, etc.), the PSPgo marks huge changes in the way the system looks and works.

Most prominent among the changes is that the PSPgo no longer sports a UMD drive and instead only plays digital content, which can be downloaded off the PlayStation Store or transferred over from another device.

Furthermore, the PSPgo is capable of being in a closed or open position as the screen slides up and down (similar to some cell phones). When in a closed position, the screen, Home and L and R buttons are all accessible, but when open, the classic PSP controls are available (analog stick, D-Pad, four face buttons, Start and Select). The system continues to function even when closed, which is useful for watching movies or listening to music. Some games, such as the upcoming LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival, can use only the L and R buttons and are playable when the system is in its closed position.

When is the PSPgo coming out?
The system will be available on Oct. 1, 2009 in North America/Europe and November 1st in Japan.

How much will it cost?
The PSPgo will retail for $249 in North America, 249 Euros in Europe/PAL territories and 26,800 yen (including tax) in Japan.

What does it come with?
In the box you'll find the system itself, a proprietary USB cable and an AC adapter that plugs into the USB cable for charging via a power outlet.

Are there any bundles available?
Not for launch. Sony promises that there will be bundles available down the line, and considering how successful they've been for previous systems, it's only a matter of time. But for launch, only the basic box with the system, proprietary USB cable and AC adaptor will be available.

What are the hardware specs?
The screen is 3.8 inches and features a 480x272 resolution. Size-wise, the screen is a little smaller than previous PSPs, but the resolution is identical. It has 64MB of RAM and has 16GB of internal flash memory for storing games, videos, pictures and whatever else your little heart desires.
For connectivity, the PSPgo has built-in WiFi (802.11b) and Bluetooth 3.0.
A list of other hardware specifics can be found below:

External dimensions: 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth)

Weight: 158g

CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1-333 MHz, Main memory 64MB

Display: Approximately 16,770,000 colors displayed

Is there still a mini-USB port for transferring content?
Not exactly. Rather than having separate ports for power, USB and video-out, the PSPgo uses an all-in-one proprietary connector that takes care of all of those things. A USB cable comes in the box, as well as an AC adaptor that plugs into the USB cable to allow you to charge it. The video-out cable will be sold separately.

Does the PSPgo feature video-out capabilities?
Yes. As mentioned above, the PSPgo features an all-in-one connector that's used for USB transfers, charging and video-out. As such, you'll need a different cable than what was used with the previous PSPs, and this will be sold separately.

Did the buttons on the system change locations?
Yes indeed. Although the D-pad, analog nub, face buttons and triggers are all relatively in the same place, the volume buttons, display button and sound button have been moved to the top side of the hardware. The WiFi switch, furthermore, is now on the left side of the system.

What peripherals are going to be available?
The USB cable and AC adaptor that come in the box will be available as a retail peripheral in case you want an extra pair. You'll also be able to find a composite AV cable, component AV cable, a cradle and a protective film screen cover. There will also be branded Memory Stick Micros, though as any M2 card will work, these serve to be more buyer-friendly for those who haven't been keeping up with the tech. At the time this article was published, prices haven't been set for the aforementioned items.

Will my old UMD-based games work on the PSPgo?
No. Since the PSPgo doesn't feature a physical UMD drive, the games simply have no place to be inserted. Sony is looking into possible ways to convert UMDs into downloadable versions of games for people who are upgrading from an older PSP to the PSPgo, though nothing has been announced as of yet.

Because UMDs aren't supported, how do I go about getting games onto the PSPgo?
The PlayStation Store is your friend. Games are available for purchase and download from the PlayStation Store already, and that number should increase greatly for the PSPgo's launch, incorporating a ton of previously-available titles from Sony, as well as third-party publishers. All future PSP titles will be available on store shelves and via download, and Sony promises to continue to release UMDs for the older systems as the PSP-3000 is still going to be sold at retail.

How many games can I fit on the system?
That totally depends on the size of the games. UMD discs hold a maximum of 1.8GB, so if you were to store games that maxed out their UMD space (which many titles do not), you'd still be able to hold almost nine games at a time just with the internal storage. Again, it'll depend on their size, but we'd expect you to be able to hold a dozen or more full "retail" games at a time on the system -- possibly more.

Can I increase the storage capacity in any way?
Yes. Memory Stick Micro (M2) flash cards are supported. As of this writing, they are available in sizes up to 32GB. When you save content to the system, it'll ask you if you want to save it to the built-in storage (16GB of flash memory) or a Memory Stick Micro (M2) instead if one is inserted.

Is there still a standard headphone jack?
Yes! As was the case with the previous PSP models, the PSPgo features a headphone jack so you can plug in your favorite pair of muffs and rock out to whatever you'd like.